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Justice News

Department of Justice

U.S. Attorney’s Office

District of Idaho

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, August 12, 2013

Boise Man Sentenced To 46 Months For Unlawfully Possessing And Transferring A Firearm

BOISE – Ronald Keith Alexander, 38, of Boise, Idaho, was sentenced today in United States District Court to 46 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for unlawfully possessing a firearm and transferring a firearm in violation of the National Firearm Registration and Transfer Record, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. Alexander pleaded guilty to the two counts on May 2, 2013.

According to court documents, in December 2012, Alexander offered to sell a rifle to a Nampa Police detective working undercover. After discussing the terms, Alexander told the officer that an automatic rifle would cost $3,200. Arrangements were made for the officer to purchase the firearm during a controlled operation. On December 18, 2012, the undercover officer met with Alexander and his co-defendant, Phillip Bernardino Chavez. Chavez presented the undercover officer with a Pioneer Arms Corporation 7.62x25 rifle and a bag containing three magazines, in exchange for $3,200. At the conclusion of the transaction, law enforcement agents arrested Alexander and Chavez. Alexander is prohibited from possessing firearms due to a prior conviction for robbery in Walla Walla County, Washington, a felony punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year. Alexander admitted that on December 4, 2012, he knowingly possessed a Federal Arms Corporation .308 rifle and a Century Arms 7.62x39 millimeter rifle. He also admitted to unlawfully transferring a Pioneer Arms Corporation 7.62x25 rifle – a machinegun with a shortened barrel – knowing the firearm was not registered to him in the National Firearm Registration and Transfer Record.

Phillip Chavez, 29, of Las Vegas, Nevada, pleaded guilty on July 11, 2013, to illegal possession of a machine gun. He is set for sentencing on September 23, 2013, before U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Nampa Police Department, and the Boise Police Department.

The defendants are being prosecuted by the Special Assistant U.S. Attorney hired by the Treasure Valley Partnership and the State of Idaho to address gang crimes. The Treasure Valley Partnership is comprised of a group of elected officials in southwest Idaho dedicated to regional coordination, cooperation, and collaboration on creating coherent regional growth. For more information, visit treasurevalleypartners.org.